Found it by the lake I was trying to cross
Webs slit, wings broken, unable to keep warm
Carried it up to my canoe and rowed away to my dry little farm.

The wife said I'm an idiot to bring another in when all our chicks starve, which is
When I leave it-but the next morning it's made a home in a ditch.

I notice something glisten in the dawning sun as it wrapped its feathers around my leg,
Curious, reaching under I pull out a single golden egg
Now my pigs are fat and my hens are fed,
I buy a new coat and once again the wife pleases me in bed
When cash seems to run out I find something shining under its breast; now I have a stable boy and a lot more time to rest.

Slowly it dawned on me like the sun on that very first morn, that little birdie spares only a single egg, just One???
And I have to spend it all just for another, how dare she make me her puppy when I'm actually her God?!
I pretend to be poor and sad and the foolish bird takes pity, making more gold,
But more's not enough, I need All of what she carries in that little mould.

Maybe the duck is getting suspicious? The wife calls for a master plan. how long do we house it anyway? We need to close the ditch to build a new barn.
I cock the pistol when the night is fresh, slowly stepping on the wet scented grass, making my way as the Flowers crush under my boot-
But when I get there there is no bird to shoot.

Far away I see a wobbling shadow wading in the moonlit lake, the waves sing an irregular beat,
The duck that laid golden eggs was swimming away on its broken feet.